Rostov na Donu or Rostov on the Don is the capital of Rostov region and the administrative center of the North Caucasus district, SE European Russia, on the Don River near its entrance into the Sea of Azov.

The Don River that the city is named for is a major shipping lane connecting southwestern Russia with regions to the north, and Rostov-on-Don is an important river port in both passenger-oriented and industrial shipping. With such a good geographical position, the city grew rapidly. As the most heavily industrialized city of South Russia, it was a bone of contention between the Whites and the Bolsheviks during the Civil War. By 1928, the regional government was moved from the old Cossack capital Novocherkassk to Rostov, which also engulfed the nearby Armenian town of Nakhichevan-on-D on.

Rostov na Donu is a major port and rail hub and an important industrial, cultural, and scientific center. One of Russia's leading producers of agricultural machinery, Rostov-na-Donu also has ship and locomotive repair yards, plants processing food and tobacco, mechanical engineering works, and factories that manufacture chemicals, building materials, electrical equipment, road-making machinery, furniture, clothing, footwear, and leather goods. A customshouse was built on the site in 1749, but the city grew around a fortress erected in 1761 and named for St. Dmitri of Rostov. Chartered in 1797, it was named Rostov na Donu to distinguish it from the older city of Rostov.

Rostov na Donu grew rapidly after the opening of its port in 1834 and was a major grain-exporting center throughout the 19th cent. Rostov na Donu's position as a center for trade between European Russia and the Caucasus area also gave it the name "Gateway to the Caucasus."

Rostov na Donu suffered much damage in World War II and had to be rebuilt after the war.

Rostov na Donu has experienced considerable economic growth in recent years, as the Russian economy recovers nationwide. Numerous start-up companies have established headquarters in the city, the median income is increasing, and the city is being transformed from a place thrown back in time by the collapse of communism into a modern, industrial and technology-rich hub.

Educational Institutions :

Educational institutions include Rostov State University, and Don State Technical University.

External Links :

Rostov na Donu Official Website
Rostov-on-Don - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Everything Russian in English
Google Images of Rostov na Donu

Rostov na Donu Lists

	Cities and towns in Rostov Oblast
	Rostov-on-Don
	Settlements established in 1749
	Don Cossacks
	Cities of Military Glory

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Tags: don river, sea of azov, russia

Date Added: 29 April '06

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